BME 240 Clinical Medicine For Biomedical

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Deep Brain Stimulation via electrodes as a safe and effective treatment of Parkinson's disease

What's Parkinson's Disease (PD)?

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neuro- degenerative brain disorder [3].  PD occurs when certain neurons in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra die or become impaired [5]. It has been proved that these cells produce dopamine which allows smooth, coordinated function of the body's muscles and movement [5].  The symptoms of Parkinson disease such as tremor, slowed movement, rigidity and difficulty with balance appear when about 80% of cells producing dopamine are damaged [5]. The symptoms of PD may include small cramped handwriting, stiff facial expression, shuffling walk, muffled speech, and depression [5]. Based on the UK Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank criteria for clinical diagnosis [3], PD can be characterized as follows:

 

1. Bradykinesia plus one of rigidity, tremor, or postural instability.

2. At least three of rest tremor, progressive symptoms, unilateral onset, early response to levodopa, revodopa-induced dyskinesia.

3. No identifiable cause for the parkinsonism.

 

 
 
 
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